Group Leader (Queens/Brooklyn NY)

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The role of the Group Team Leader is to help individuals with an intellectual disability/mental health reach their goals, develop skills, and provide support as required by working with the Day Support Program and developing the staff. The position is responsible for ensuring daily activities, recreation, work sites and community outings on a routine based on the individuals’ valued outcomes, choices, and desires. The Group Team Leader is to maintain a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment which fosters growth and habilitation, meaningful activities, and facilitates the development of independent and self-help skills of the individual. The Group Team Leader is responsible for planning, supervising, and coordinating the activities and recreation. The Group Team Leader is responsible for maintenance and revision of developed systems within the Day Program, which includes programmatic, quality assurance systems, training systems, and billing systems. The Group Team Leader is responsible for leadership of recreational programming and meaningful activities including participant and community relations, supervising volunteer activities, operations, safety. Under direction, oversees and coordinates the operations and services of assigned community recreation programs including physical activities, or recreation programs, events, and activities; assesses needs, plans, implements, and evaluates program staff. The Group Team Leader is responsible for keeping these systems organized, efficient and for ensuring that staff is using these systems appropriately. 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Must have a passion for and desire to collaborate with people with intellectual disabilities and other physical or mental disabilities. Knowledge of basic human physical and psychological needs. Knowledge of simple health and safety precautions. Knowledge of simple nursing care procedures, first-aid, behavior management, personal and environmental hygiene. Ability to write progress and behavior reports using a professional, objective style and voice. Ability to use computers and other electronic equipment. Ability to interact with individuals, community members and other treatment team members. Ability to read and comprehend technical training manuals. Ability to follow written and oral instructions course of action. Ability to learn basic operation and maintenance of adaptive equipment. Ability to be supportive and patient. Ability to be a team player. Ability to observe, record and report individuals’ behavior, attitude, and physical condition effectively. Ability to prioritize conflicting deadlines. Ability to observe, record, and report participant’s behavior, attitude, and physical conditions. Ability to read, comprehend ad follow individuals safeguard and program protocols. Ability to obtain First Aid/CPR certification and Medication Administration Training. Ability to cope with stress and to adhere to deadlines and respect line management.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Ensure safety compliance for individuals within the Day Support setting and the Direct Support Professionals who work there and monitors and ensures that activities, both inside and outside of the Day Support, comply with State and Federal regulations and Agency and Program specific policies and procedures.
2. Monitors staff in planning and coordinating services designed to: teach individuals life skills necessary to establish and maintain their independence and increase individuals’ participation in social and community based activities, increase individuals’ range of socially appropriate behaviors and habits to increase acceptance and integration in the community at large and assist individuals in maintaining health and safety skills.
3. Support Site Supervisors in the understanding and implementation of the Direct Support Professional Core Competencies.
4. Covers the duties of Direct Support Professionals in the event of a vacant position or time off.
5. Attend Day Habilitation management meeting and agency wide management meeting and assist in the individual’s advocate in obtaining all services outlined in the Day Habilitation plan.
6. Complete reports and ensure proper documentation of any incident at the facility and coordinate with Program Coordinator to identify staff needs, staff training etc.
7. Train new hires and implement Shadow Training procedures to provide an orientation, to ensure that the staff is clear about their responsibilities and coordinate the Day Habilitation program is adequately staffed, based on regulatory ratios.
8. Perform planning, scheduling, and administration, in conjunction with program management, for new programs clubs/groups, major events, recreational events, community inclusion and worksites, and other activities,
9. Thinking creatively and developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
10. Organize and monitor programming activity material along with program management to ensure that scheduled events and activities are available. 
11. Ensure attending individuals have their lunch, meals or snacks daily and that it is in accordance with their prescribed diet, meal plan or diet restrictions according to their documented safeguards. Ensure that all Day Habilitation’s document for each individual is completed and updated.
12. Conduct Arrival and Departure Observation to ensure adequate supervision and that all safeguards and plans are followed; in addition to monitor the interaction, activities and response to services. 
13. Coordinate and provide recreational program plans with program management to formulate, implement, administer, and maintain a multi-focused community and recreation program for individuals. 
14. In coordination with program management, lead, schedule, and monitor staff to monitor responses to recreational, events and community plans. 
15. Train and orient staff on engaging with individuals to produce individuals’' satisfaction and fostering meaningful activities.
16. Direct and monitor day-to-day recreation programs, classes, events, functions, facility and equipment operations, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards. Be sure all activity equipment is present, secured, cleaned and taken care/not damaged.
17. Promote and publicize recreation programs and perform duties such as leading focus groups, video plans and productions, or preparing announcements and promotions within the agency. 
18. Develop new programs and services and serve as a liaison on behalf of the Day Programs to participants, interested persons, employees, families, community, and others. 
19. Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, hobbies, volunteering, and hobbies.
20. Enforce Staff Assignment to task, groups and activities according to the operational procedures.
21. Meet and collaborate with agency personnel, community organizations, and other professional personnel to plan balanced recreational programs for participants.
22. Provide monthly calendars to include recreational, volunteer and community events, in accordance with the Program Structured Scheduled procedures.
23. Ensure that recreational, activities and programming are generated by individual choice and not program convenience, developing new programs and activities by researching trends, community requests, and evaluating community needs and observe and monitor the quality of programs, events, and clubs.
24. Search and retain volunteer site for individuals that attend Day Habilitation Program and monitor individuals and staff at their assigned worksites. Document individual worksite attendance on a daily basis.
25. Create safe, supportive environment in which Day Habilitation individuals can learn skills necessary to function more independently.
26. Ensure that individual’s Habilitation Services are conducted on a daily basis (like goals, go to volunteer site, recreation of Friday activities) and monitor the completion of all habilitation documentation in contemporaneous.
27. Develop and implement individual’s monthly schedule to include recreational, volunteer activities, community outings, in-program activities.
28. Performs all other duties assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Required: 

• High School Diploma/GED with seven to ten years’ work experience in the OPWDD and serving the intellectually developmentally disabled population, and;  

Preferred:

• Associates Degree in the Human Service-related field (or equivalent credits), with four to six years’ work experience in the OPWDD and serving the intellectually developmentally disabled population ,or;  
• SCIP, AMAP, and CPR/First Aid certifications preferred and familiarity with OPWDD regulations.